Neighborhood “back to basics” for returning Americans

[Source: Leong Siok Hui, Malaysia Star] — When American Celeste Froehlich first returned to the United States after living in Rwanda, she was hit by reverse culture shock. Though she and her husband, Aaron, settled in a nice neighbourhood in Central Phoenix, Arizona, she found it “so stark.” Hardly anyone strolled in the streets and people didn’t look her in the eye even at the grocery store.

The Froehlichs missed the close-knit community in Rwanda. “We knew our neighbours. It was important to say ‘Hi’ or ask about each other’s families when we met on the streets,” says Froehlich, 31, who trained in clinical social work and works with refugees and migrants. They started looking up intentional communities — planned residential communities that reflect residents’ shared values — to move into. [Note: Read the full article at Neighborhood “back to basics” for returning Americans.]